Kenny Rogers, Dolly Parton reunite on new duet

This Sept. 4, 2013 photo shows country music artist Kenny Rogers at The Hot Seat in Nashville, Tenn. Rogers' latest album, "You Can't Make Old Friends," was released on Oct. 8. (Photo by Donn Jones/Invision/AP)

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Three decades after their unforgettable team up on “Islands in the Stream,” Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton have a new duet out on Rogers’ latest album.

The title song from “You Can’t Make Old Friends” shows once again the special chemistry he and Parton have. But Rogers says it stops there.

“Working with Dolly is a great rush for me because we are good friends and we have been forever,” Rogers said. “People always thought we were having an affair and we didn’t want to ruin it because if we’d had an affair, we’d lose that spark. We just flirted a lot.”

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Not even one stolen kiss?

“I can’t explain it but flirting is more electric than passion, it’s the anticipation,” Rogers said. “She does it better than anybody I’ve ever seen, and it’s just fun. It’s fun to be in the room with her.”

Rogers asked songwriter Don Schlitz, who wrote “The Gambler,” to come up with a song he could do with Parton that defined their relationship, and “Old Friends” was the result. There was no such premeditated planning for “Islands in the Stream.” The song, written by Barry Gibb of the Bee Gees, would eventually become a No. 1 hit on both the pop and country charts. But Rogers admits struggling with it before Parton entered the studio.

“I sang it for four days without her and I said, `I don’t even like this song anymore,”’ Rogers said. “So my manager had just run into Dolly and he brought her in, and in 40 minutes it just took on a whole different personality.”

The release this week of the new album kicks off an eventful month for the 75-year-old Rogers. He’ll be inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame on Oct. 27.

“I’m in a wonderful place in my life,” Rogers said. “I’ve been married 16 years, been together for 21. I have two boys that are 9 years old that are just wonderful, and I’m still allowed to chase my dream a bit. What more do you need?”